Month: June 2017

I have been developing some bad habits recently that I need to control. Seriously, I’m trying to save money and I end up paying nearly $100 for black suit wool just for a ‘practice’ project. My problem is I’m starting to buy more things without checking the price. It’s been going on for quite a while, and started about a year ago when I got a job but had no priorities or anything to save for.

Also I’m half way through the first part of this project, and I found I only needed around 60% of the wool I bought -.-. A few of my past projects were the same deal, I only needed about half the supplies I got.

The only good thing though is I might be able to make use of this wool. I could instead include it into some kind of portfolio piece. I’m thinking it could turnout to be a 20/30s inspired coat/cape suit look. Today I finished cutting the pieces, lining, interfacing, etc. Over the next few days I’ll have to decide on the decoration or embroidery I’ll do on it and materials I would use. Then hopefully I’ll check the right price and amount of those materials so I won’t be as wasteful as I have been.

And most importantly, I hope I finish it. That’s another flaw I have. I can’t manage to finish a lot of projects I start. It takes me forever to start it if it’s not on impulse. Then I’ll get to 70% complete super quick, and somehow leave it there forever. I’ve thrown quite a few projects away in the past and I feel a kind of shame just remembering my plans for it all. But I don’t lose hope! Maybe every third or fourth thing I tend to complete or make an achievement. Like I’m 10 minutes away from finishing a major thick scarf. The tassles are a little nuts but I like it. This is after 2 other yarn projects I did. The first was shit because it was the first of course, and the second has been ignored though it sits just 2 ruler lengths away from me…hmm. Anyways, I’ll probably finish the scarf tonight and use my breaks at work to make up my mind on designs.

Some pictures of Theda Bara, who motivated me to get a 20s source-book where I found a thousand coat and cape looks. I was originally interested in more lightweight fabrics, now I don’t know anymore. However, my number one original favourite from the 20s will always be Clara Bow.

1. What’s the wisest piece of advice your mother has ever given you?
Work, earn lots of money, and enjoy.

2. What was the worst haircut that you’ve ever gotten?
It didn’t look bad, but I regret paying $60 for a cut that I didn’t explain to the hairdresser well. It was a waste because I cut it at home afterwards.

3. If you died tomorrow, who do you think your death would impact the most?
My sister maybe?

4. Do you prefer writing in pencil or pen?
Pencil

5. What was your favorite snack when you were a kid?
Chocolate Pillows with the thick crispy biscuit.

6. How did you come up with the name for your pet? – no pet

7. What is the worst physical pain that you’ve ever experienced?
A fat thorn in my foot 😦

9. What book was so bad that you didn’t even finish it?
If I don’t finish a book, it’s because I’m too lazy or the writing style just doesn’t match me (?). I’ve left several ‘classics’ unfinished.

10. Are there any colors that you refuse to wear?
no way. Though when I was younger I always told myself to not buy black. Black is now half my wardrobe.

11. What one thing are you most proud of accomplishing?
Hopefully when I travel the other side of the world. I’ll definitely get emotional.

12. If you could be interviewed on any talk show, which one would it be?
One where you don’t have to be fake happy please.

13. What’s the scariest ghost story that you’ve ever been told?
My mum told scary stories very well. (One from rural Philippines) There was one where if you walk outside at night, and you get scared for some reason, an invisible hand would come up from the dirt and hold onto your ankle! So don’t let the monsters sense your fear!

14. Are there any dreams or nightmares that stick out from when you were a child?
A bleeding, wingless, manananggal. A part of me thinks this ‘dream’ might not have been a dream.

15. What do you think is the worst crime a human could commit?
Hurting the innocent.

16. If you were reincarnated, would you want to be a boy or a girl in your next life?
Will I even care in my next life

17. What artist do you wish would be taken off the radio? – idc

18. Have you ever witnessed something unexplainable?
No but twice I’ve woken up and was still dreaming visually. It messes you up pretty bad.

19. If you could go back to high school, what would you do differently?
Probably get to know more people. After the first semester, I ended up sticking to one group for the next 5 years.

20. How long do you think you could last without having intercourse?
A long time.

21. Are there any mythical creatures that you believe in?
Anything could exist somewhere in someway.

22. Is there a specific teacher that made your life miserable?
No, I didn’t bother them.

23. What TV show or movie do you want to watch, but haven’t gotten around to it yet?
The Inbetweeners movies. I just watched the series and they’re ridiculous.

24. Do you think any of your coworkers deserve to be fired?
No, but there are a few I wouldn’t have hired myself.

25. When you were little, what scenarios did your Barbies (or G.I. Joes) act out?
I never acted out stuff, just decorated the scenes haha.

26. Do you like the color of your eyes?
Yeah, though I think green eyes are wonderful.

27. Do you believe that animals experience emotions in the same way that humans do?
Yes? I’ve never researched this though.

28. What’s the mostembarrassing dare you’ve ever completed?
It wasn’t so embarrassing as it was GROSS! I had to lick someones toe :(((

29. What common food have you never actually tried?

30. What’s your favorite cat breed?

31. What’s your favorite section of the newspaper?
Well the rare times I read them, wherever it talks about someone I can relate to achieving something. Or some big event in the world I’m following.

32. Which 90s show do you wish they’d bring back?
It was right at the end but I loved Freaks and Geeks! My childhood was in the 2000s so…

I have a few hours to kill before I gotta work so I thought I’d note down how I’m saving a bit here and there to save up for future travels. There are so many places I wanna go and so many things I want to do all over the world, but I haven’t really made it a priority until recently because I’ve been letting myself get distracted by unimportant everyday things. So many of these small everyday things cost only a bit of money, but at the end of each day/month they add up. I don’t have a huge helpful list, but I think just sticking to a few of these things go a long way.

Cut down on Coffee/café drinks
One of my biggest loves in life are cafés, and a lot of the time I would go out just to go to one. Most of the time though it was during lunch breaks and shopping that I would spend $3 – $5, even a few times a day for hot drinks. Each week that would often reach $30. I wouldn’t even need a buzz (cos for some reason caffeine doesn’t work on me), and nearly everyday I’d already had a coffee/tea at home. I also had free drinks at work. So really I just went for the sake of buying it and using up a ridiculous amount of coffee cards, which I still collect from new cafes at least once a month. Where I work/live the drinks are kind of expensive for what you get, and the Chocs and Chais can be even more than the coffees. So telling myself I don’t need to spend those few extra dollars each day is still a little hard, but it’s working.

Clothes!!! (& beauty stuff)
What typical girly girl in love with clothing and fashion doesn’t enjoy expanding her wardrobe each week? It’s quite hard to avoid, especially on my days off. But luckily for me I tend to get sick of shops every now and then, and I’m not a fan of online shopping. Also, I’m not in walking distance to any big malls where I work/live. So this one is a little easier to avoid, but when I’m there, well I just hope I don’t find something I fall in love with at first sight. When I’m lucky, this saves me at least $50 a week. If I add art and craft supplies to the mix it definitely goes up about $20.

Taxis/Ubers
I don’t drive myself so where most of my transport money goes to is taxi/uber rides. Umm, really it’s just me being less lazy, having better time management, and only using these services when I really need to. For example, when I’ve somehow missed 534 alarms, and I have to be at work in half an hour. I also live a decent way from work, so some weeks it would have reached $60, and every other week just 10 less. So this one is quite big. I also got a bike to save and get some daily exercise in. Instead of spending nearly $10 just to catch a train, I can get up off my weak ass and bike for 10 minutes while saving another bit of cash. This also goes for the taxis/ubers home. I will only spend on a lift home if I really can’t be bothered and want to lie in bed asap.

Pointless little shit for my home/room
Nearly every time I go to get something I do need, I end up walking through all the isles with nice new useful looking stuff. But honestly I already have something at home which is doing the job, or it’s really not that useful at all. I studied some business and marketing, so It’s not too hard to convince myself that I don’t need that crap, but it still takes effort. This could be anywhere from $10 to $50 a week.

There are more things, but these are my main general ways of saving that I actually have to make an effort with everyday. I am improving, and I think these could apply for anything else I save for in the future. Also, something tell myself with these things is, instead of buying ‘this’ here, I could wait and buy ‘this’ overseas instead! This works for me 80% of the time when I’m unable to tell myself no. Well good luck to me.

Pictures are of a Byron Bay sunrise. I spent a week there the last time during a semester break.

Holy heck this Saturday will be the last class of the fashion course I began at the start of May. The past several weeks have just flown by so fast that I can’t believe it’s basically already finished. For my last ‘class’ I have to use a pattern of my own choosing and sew a garment there. I haven’t chosen what I want yet, but I have a few to pick from. Also I only have tomorrow (later today, it’s 1.30am right now) to prepare! To chose the pattern, or buy it even, chose and buy fabric and materials to match, and pre-cut it all. I don’t have too many distractions at the moment so I should be able to get it done, but I say this to myself about everything, every night -.- I hope I can make up my mind, get it done, and move on to other related things.

This course has been pretty much what I expected. I started it to get an idea for what the industry might be like, and what it might be like to study it long term as well. I’ve also received lots of information on either starting up a business/label straight away, or bits and pieces to start a portfolio for further study. Although the business side of things is tempting, I would prefer to do further study. One thing though, we received lots of info, but it was a very generic overview because it was just 8 weeks. It is what I wanted though and now It’s up to me to make what I can from it.

Another thing, I’m traveling in 2 months, and some longer courses I want to apply for open just before I leave. So I have to come up with somethings in about a months time. I’m not sure how I will pull that off, but I know I’m quite okay under pressure, probably more motivated too.

Note: I watched this whole silent film starring Lillian Gish and the costumes are so inspiring! The picture is her in a wedding night dress robe. Also, the movie was very emotionally engaging. Tragic but sort of a happy decent ending. 🙂